David Gladow / NOLA.comThe Zephyrs figure to provide New Orleans plenty of entertainment this summer.

Somehow or another, I convinced myself I needed to make it out to the Zephyrs home opener tonight. Of course that meant I would have to cover the Zephyrs, Hornets, VooDoo and Hornets in successive days, but I, being a glutton for punishment, gladly accepted this fate ... lingering head cold and mangled tire be damned.

So I bummed my girlfriend's car, shot myself full of caffeine (caffeine is the great elixir), and headed over to Zephyr Field for my first ever Zephyrs game.

How will my evening end up going? Read on to find out.

(7:09 p.m.) -- Right away I was rather stoked after I scored some free parking as a member of the media. Sometimes you have to smooth talk your way in, but I just uttered the word "media" and the parking attendant practically pushed my car on into the lot for me. So that was definitely nice.

Arrival in the pressbox was a somewhat different situation as I ended up getting placed in one of the TV rooms with a TV crew ... meaning a "report the experience" kind of blog as I was planning could ultimately consist of me describing me sitting quietly in a corner. Now that's not as dull as describing my parking experience, mind you. But still, it's not what I'd call "scintillating" journalism.

So I was disappointed. I got over it quickly though once I was able to consume more Coke. Sweet nectar of the gods.

(7:18 p.m.) -- Three strikeouts to start the season. I'll take that. Then again, if it were ME out there pitching, I'd take a single pitch over the plate. So perhaps I'm understating things a tad. Yeah, striking out the side is pretty darn good.

David Gladow / NOLA.comBoudreaux has a way with the ladies.

(7:40 p.m.) -- Not content to merely hang out in the pressbox all game, I journeyed down to the stands to get myself some fan interaction. I apparently wasn't alone in this quest, as I quickly encountered Zephyrs mascot Boudreaux doing the same thing. He was much more popular than me, however (as my photo attests). Before I could ask him what his secret was (or what animal he was supposed to be), he scurried off to no doubt pose for more photos with other eager fans.

Just for the record, I will pose for photos as well.

You all should be honored.

Or not.

(7:50 p.m.) -- The Zephyrs' bats come alive, whilst I am goofing off watching some kids play Ms. Pacman. Incidentally, what does Ms. Pacman have to do with baseball? I honestly don't get it. I'm sure it's all about the team doing its best to embrace the entertainment side of its business model and appeal to the kids (then again, has anyone under the age of 30 actually played Ms. Pacman?), but it's an odd choice for a baseball game. On the other hand, I can't think of a single decent arcade baseball game, and Ms. Pacman is a classic. It's all beginning to make a weird sort of cosmic sense.

Anyhow, the team is showing some decent ability at the plate, which pleases me. Pitchers duels are only really compelling if both pitchers are truly dominating, and that isn't going to be the case tonight. Each team is beginning to make a little noise at the plate, so we may as well see some scoring. Thankfully, New Orleans has obliged. Three runs go on the board and the Zephyrs take a 3-0 lead after two innings.

David Gladow / NOLA.comBehold the beauty of the Pig Nachos.

(8:03 p.m.) -- I have encountered what may be the perfect stadium food: Pig Nachos. This may not seem all that ground-breaking to many of you (Indeed, a quick Google search revealed I've been living in a cave), but to me these concessionary delights are a revelation.

For those who have yet to see the light, Pig Nachos are a layer of tortilla chips covered with your standard layer of nacho cheese, but the cherry on top (so to speak) is a thick layer of BBQ pulled pork. The end result is the monstrosity pictured to the right ... and a happy belly (happy for five minutes anyway...).

I am now pretty well obsessed with getting an order. Perhaps in another inning or two?

(8:41 p.m.) -- Still thinking about the nachos.

In other news, the teams have traded runs and settled back down into a mutual offensive slump. Unfortunately, we're not getting any great strikeouts, but we are getting some pretty solid play - there's just one error to this point. Nashville has seven hits, but the Zephyrs have nine (and a 4-1 lead on the scoreboard).

(8:54 p.m.) -- Random note. My ring tone just came on the loudspeaker as the marketing folks started playing The Price is Right with a couple of fans. It's one of those ring tones that always seems to elicit a laugh or smile, and it suits me pretty well (meaning it's goofy as heck). Anyway, it was nice hearing it.

David Gladow / NOLA.comThe fans showed up ... and were rewarded with a good show.

(9:13 p.m.) -- We're into the bottom of the eighth inning and the 'Zs' have themselves a 5-1 lead. The home team and home crowd are happy, the TV guys are pleased, and I'm rather impressed with how many folks are still here. New Orleans fans are typically late to arrive and early to leave, so it's good to see tons of people still enjoying themselves.

Does location play a factor in this? I'm sure for many fans it's an easier drive to Zephyr Field than to New Orleans Arena, for instance, but are the suburbs home to more baseball fans in general? I'm guessing so.

On another note, I think I missed the boat on the nachos with the food stands about to close. My stomach is probably doing a victory lap right now, even though my mouth is saddened. Oh well, there is always next time.

(9:31 p.m.) -- Flirting with disaster. Nashville scores a quick run, the relief pitcher gives up a couple of hits, and all of a sudden the Zephyrs' lead looks a little shaky.

On the plus side, the powers-that-be put some Cowboy Mouth on the loudspeakers. Good call, my friends, good call.

David Gladow / NOLA.comThe Zephyrs got it done on opening night.

(9:42 p.m.) -- That didn't take long. A groundout and the closer does his job ... Zephyrs win 5-2 in a shade over two and a half hours. As a member of the media, you can't argue with either the result or the time elapsed. I may even get home sometime before midnight. Score!

But in all seriousness, the Zephyrs put on a good show. The amenities here at the park are great and the entire experience is very fan friendly. As if to illustrate the point, the team just shut off the lights and started a fireworks display for the fans. Even I, a skeptic, have to admit that is tremendously cool.

Of course, the fans got a great show during the game as well. These Zephyrs look to be a pretty salty bunch: Good on the mound, solid at the plate and sound in the field. I get the feeling they'll have a pretty nice year if they can stay healthy.

Or I'm way off. Either way, I can give the Dave stamp of approval to the Zephyrs experience (which counts for about as much as a pile of losing lottery tickets). But still, there it is.

Hope everyone can get out there and enjoy a few games this year! Go 'Zs'!